236 BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS 



The question of manure is very important. There is nothing 

 better than decayed manure from old hotbeds, or worked-out 

 Mushroom beds. Failing this, a supply of good yard manure 

 should be secured a few weeks before it is wanted, and laid up in 

 a heap, with a layer of soil under it, to decay. If the ground is 

 dug and manured in autumn, and left rough as suggested, it may 

 be dressed with wood ashes whenever there has been a garden fire, 

 and with soot whenever the chimneys are swept. Some time during 



February the following mixture of chemi- 

 cal manure may be spread on at the rate 

 of seven pounds per square rod : three 

 pounds of superphosphate, one pound of 

 steamed bone flour, one pound of nitrate 

 of potash, one pound of sulphate of potash, 

 and one pound of nitrate of soda. The 

 fertiliser may be scratched in with a rake 

 or lightly turned in with a fork. 



If this course of soil culture and 

 manuring be followed there need be no 



A, soil in pot with seeds sown ; B, soil f ear o f poor TCSUltS. Liquid manure, 

 to cover the seeds, I in. deep. 



Young plants suked while growing supplied when the plants come into bloom, 



in the pots. . 



will further improve matters. A soaking 



of a different kind every three days will be better than daily 

 driblets of one kind only. Liquid made from animal manure may 

 alternate with the special fertilisers sold by florists. 



In modern Sweet Pea culture it is not thought wise to rely 

 upon outdoor sowings, whether made in autumn or spring. In 

 order to make sure of starting with very strong, healthy, well- 

 rooted plants, seed is sown under glass. The period of sowing 

 ranges from September to March inclusive. Some highly success- 

 ful growers sow singly in small (3-inch) pots in September, and 

 keep the plants in a cool house throughout the winter. As a 

 rule they only make three or four inches of growth before the 



SWEBT PEAS SOWING SEEDS IN 

 POTS 



